The NSU Spider was the first production automobile powered by a Wankel rotary engine, introduced in 1964.
Built by the West German company NSU, the two-seat Spider used a single-rotor engine designed around Felix Wankel’s rotary principle. Instead of pistons moving up and down inside cylinders, a triangular rotor turned within a specially shaped housing. This gave the engine compact dimensions and smooth operation.
The Mazda Cosmo Sport followed in 1967 and became the best-known early rotary car, while NSU’s Ro 80 brought the technology to a larger four-door model. The Spider is therefore sometimes overlooked, but its 1964 launch gives it priority as the first production rotary automobile. Rotary engines later faced challenges involving fuel consumption, emissions, and apex-seal durability.